-1

Ron was up late, once again. He lay on his bed, looking at the plain ceiling above. It had been only four days since he had left Harry and Hermione. He spent every night deeply regretting his impulsive actions. It had been only two days since he had arrived at Bill and Fleur's house at the Shell Cottage. He had encountered a brief scare with snatchers, after he had dissaparated from the trio's tent.

Ron punched his pillow as the images that had been tormenting him weeks prior, rose up again. To distract himself, he pulled out the Delumenator from his pocket. As he clicked it open -as usual- all the lights in the room turned on. He clicked them off again. When he went to press the button again, his fingers fumbled and he felt a tiny button he had not yet touched. Eagerly, Ron pressed the button.

This time, the balls of light did not go to their corresponding places. Instead, a ball of light was glowing dimly and was becoming bigger and brighter. Ron looked on astonished as moving images were coming into focus. It was the tent. Harry and Hermione seemed to be swaying lightly in a tight embrace. Ron could here soft music in the background.

His blood boiled. His hands were forming into fists as he started shaking in anger.

"I knew it. They were having me on all along!" He spat out angrily. "And to think I was actually regretting walking out on them!"

It is so easy to see

Dysfunction between you and me

We must free up these tired souls

Before the sadness kills us both

Despite the anguishing scene before him, he couldn't look away. Something kept preventing him from walking away. Ron watched as a teary faced Hermione put a hand on Harry's cheek.

"Harry I love you. You have no idea how scared I am of telling you this. But after Ron left, it gave me time to think about everything. I love you so much! But I've got to move on. You obviously will never see me in that way." she said tearfully. "Ron seems to be willing to change. So I might as well try to work things with him"

It was the last words, above everything else, that hurt Ron the most. He no longer felt as angry. The words stung. She was settling. She hadn't chosen him out of love. Rather she was settling for him because the one she truly loved was forbidden. Ron felt tears welling in his eyes. He still could not look away.

"Tonight I just want to live a dream. You and me. I don't want to think about the war or Ron or Ginny." said Hermione caressing Harry's cheek. "I just want this moment, just this one moment that I can treasure forever. Whatever the outcome may be."

Ron watched as Harry stroked Hermione's hair. His expressions said it all. He too, it seemed, felt the same way. Ron was shaking his head in disbelief. Had Dumbledore really planned on giving Ron the Delumenator for this purpose? For the sheer purpose of torturing him as his worst fears came alive before his very eyes?

Hermione closed the space between her and Harry, as she embraced him firmly again. Tiptoeing, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Don't say anything." said Hermione softly.

"Please." she added almost pleadingly.

For reasons unknown to him, Ron was more poignant than angry. He had long thought that if Harry and Hermione ever did fall in love, it would because Harry would not like Ron having something he didn't have. He felt disgusted with himself. It was clear to him that he deserved this. He deserved not being with his best friends at this moment. He had doubted Harry and Hermione. Again. Now he was not only destroying the trio's friendship. He was also destroying the love of Harry and Hermione. It had not occurred to him that their falling in love was beyond their control. If anything Ron had created this moment to happen.

"Hermione" said Harry softly, backing away from her to see her face, but not enough to disengage himself. "I love you too. I always have, but too much is at stake. So many people would get hurt."

Hermione's lips trembled as she nodded her head in agreement.

Ron hated himself. Despite everything he had done, everything he had said, Harry and Hermione still thought of his well being above their own. Of course it killed him to see the woman he loved and the man he thought of as a brother so in love. It was even more devastating to see that they were willing to sacrifice it all for the well being of a friend who had not done justice to the meaning of the word. Ron watched on as the gloomy scene played out in front of him. He had often heard that when you love a person, you'd do anything to make them happy. Even if that meant letting go. Ron had always scoffed at the philosophy. Until this moment. He finally understood what it meant. He could not kid himself. The way Hermione looked into Harry's eyes…she had never looked at him that way. For once he wasn't going to take the easy way out. He always knew deep inside that Hermione deserved better. He hadn't been so nice to her over the years. He was not going to let her blow her chance on true love on him. He owed her and loved her too much to let her go through with it. Harry also deserved some happiness. He had come to know such little happiness in his young life. He was no longer going to be selfish and uncaring.

I tried and tried to let you know

I love you but I'm letting go

It may not last but I don't know

Just don't know

The image produced by the Deluminator vanished. Ron heard a light rap on the door.

"Come in" he said as he wipes his eyes rapidly on his sleeve.

Ginny had walked in to the room.

"Ron!" exclaimed Ginny as she hugged her older brother.

"Hey Gin!" he said hugging her back eagerly.

"I Begged mum to bring me here as soon as I heard." said Ginny disengaging from Ron.

"Don't worry. Bill made up a story saying you wanted to be alone."

"You look down in the dumps. Where's Harry and Hermione ?" asked Ginny curiously.

"That's why I'm down in the dumps." said Ron grimly. "I left them"

"You what?" cried Ginny. "What kind of friend are you?"

"I know. I don't need you to tell me what I already know." said Ron sourly.

"What could be a good enough reason to leave your best friends when they need you the most?" asked Ginny angrily.

If you don't know

Then you can't care

And you show up

But you're not there

But I'm waiting

And you want to

Still afraid that I will desert you

"Spare me the lecture will you?" said Ron heatedly. "I'm not about to make excuses for my actions. But something made my already stupid insecurities even worse. I left them because things were not going easy and because I was getting suspicious of Harry and Hermione."

Ginny looked at him, flabbergasted.

"Are you saying you think Harry and Hermione are fooling around behind you back?"

Ron did not answer, but his silence was just as good as one.

"I'd be so angry if I was them. How could you think Harry and Hermione would ever do that to you? Hermione loves you and so does Harry."

"That's exactly why they're sacrificing their happiness. For yours and mine" said Ron running a hand through his red hair. "And why I don't deserve such friends. I've been so awful to them."

Everyday

With every worthless word we get more far away

The distance between us makes it so hard to stay

But nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe

It hurts but it may be the only way

Ginny looked at her brother. And odd feeling creeping in.

"Ron what exactly are you saying?"

Ron looked up at her; his eyes had a certain tint of red.

"Do you love Harry?" he asked.

"Yes. But I don't get what-"

"Let him go." he said simply.

"What?"

"Let him go" he repeated.

"Harry loves me. Why would I-"

"He loves Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. Tears falling unashamedly.

Ginny looked at him as if he had spoken another language.

"Ron, you've got to get your facts straight before you start making assumptions" said Ginny.

Ron shook his head.

"I saw them."

"What? How?" asked Ginny.

"The Delumenator. Dumbledore gave it to me in his will." retorted Ron.

Ginny still looked on disbelievingly.

"How do you know if what you saw was real?" she asked.

"Dumbledore gave it to me for a reason. It wouldn't lie"

"Harry doesn't love Hermione in that way. Why hasn't he ever shown-?"

"Any signs?" Ron finished for her. "Because of their loyalty. Something I've failed to give both of them."

A bed that's warm with memories

Can heal us temporarily

The misbehaving only makes

The ditch between us so damn deep

Built a wall around my heart

I'll never let it fall apart

But strangely I wish secretly

It would fall down while I'm asleep

"Ginny, we can't live this lie anymore." he said holding his sister's hands. "They love each other. It safe to say they have for a long time. But one, they've been too stubborn to realize it and two, they're too loyal to us."

Realization was sinking in. but Ginny didn't want to believe it.

Ginny shook her head vigorously as tears fell from her light brown eyes.

"How can I let him go? He means so much to me. He finally gives me the time of day." Said Ginny.

"Ginny, you've fallen too fast. You can't possibly be truly in love with Harry. You guys don't even know each other that well."

"But I do..." said Ginny.

If you don't know

Then you can't care

And you show up

But you're not there

But I'm waiting

And you want to

Still afraid that I will desert you, babe

Everyday

With every worthless word we get more far away

The distance between us makes it so hard to stay

But nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe

It hurts but it may be the only way

Ron decided not push the issue.

"If you really love Harry, then the decision should be clear."

"But it's not easy."

"Love isn't easy. Remember that old saying we used to scoff at?" asked Ron gingerly.

Ginny nodded.

"You know, the one that says 'If you love someone you'd do anything to see them happy, even if it means let go'?"

Ginny sighed.

"You're really gonna let Hermione go?" inquired Ginny.

Though we have not hit the ground

It doesn't mean we're not still falling,

Oh I want so bad to pick you up

But you're still too reluctant to accept my help

What a shame, I hope you find somewhere to place the blame

But until then the fact remains

"I really love Hermione. And I only want for her to be happy. Harry as well." said Ron shakily. "I need to make it up to them somehow."

Ginny looked at her brother in awe.

"Ron you really have grown. Personally, Hermione's a fool not to love you." said Ginny bracingly.

"We both know Hermione's no fool. It's just that her heart called out to someone else. Besides I know she loves me in another way. So at the moment I'll settle for that." said Ron smiling weakly.

Ginny looked down at the floor.

"You're right. After all that's been going on for Harry, he deserves some tender moments." said Ginny. "When you go back to them, please let Harry know I wish him and Hermione the best. I'm letting him go."

"I will Gin. I will" said Ron bracing his sister's shoulders.

Everyday

With every worthless word we get more far away

The distance between us makes you so hard to stay

Nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe

It hurts but it may be the only way

Everyday

With every worthless word we get more far away

The distance between us makes it so hard to stay

But nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe

It hurts but it may be the only way